People have traversed the sea by boat for centuries, often covering vast distances with rudimentary means, surviving by skill and luck. Maritime crossings now attract heightened academic and policy attention due to their real and perceived perilousness compared to overland migration. The sea is assumed specifically dangerous due to extreme weather and disorienting remoteness from land. Moreover, refugee voyages are more disaster-prone still, given their insufficient equipment, lack of shelter, and absence of public oversight.

This documentary captures the maritime passages of Rohingya refugees navigating the Andaman Sea. Reconstructing events through narrative interviews with several protagonists reveals uncertainties, interruptions and unexpected encounters at sea. Stranded aboard, passengers face hunger, dehydration, existential fear, and rapid deterioration of health. The documentary focuses particularly on hostile receptions by the local population in Aceh, Indonesia, a region that itself once produced large numbers of refugees. By following the newly arrived refugees and listening to their plans and aspirations, the documentary shows why Rohingya refugees undertake such risky journeys in the first place. Beyond the specific human story of Rohingya displacement, it raises broader questions about movement, loss and resilience.